Clutch device.



No. 865,450. PATENTED SEPT.'10, 1907. T. L. & T. J. STURTEVANT.

CLUTCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. ze. 1907.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A 5 g NW NME@ Waff-ceased' No. 865,450. PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

' T. L. & T. J. STURTEVANT.

4CLUTCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2s. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fave/rifers.'

No. 865,450. PATENTED SEPT. 10, 190'7. T. L. & T. J. STURTEVANT.

GLUTGH DEVICE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAR, ze. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' vANrr and THOMAS JOSEPH S'rUR'rnvArrr, citizens of the UNITED STATES THOMAS.` LEG'GETT STURTEVANT, OF

PATiuvT4 OFFICE.

QUYINCY, AND THOMAS JOSEPH STURTEVANT, OF

WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO STURTEVANT MILL COMPANY, OF PORT- y LAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CLUTCH DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 1o, 1907.

Application filed March 28,1907- Serial No. 365,055.

To all whom. it 'may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAs LEGGETTSTURTE- United States, residing, respectively, at Quincy and Wellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to automatic-clutch, `powertransmitting devices more particularly adapted for use with motor-vehicles, but which may be used for.other purposes,.if desired; the invention having for its principal object to provide an automatic clutch-device with manually controlled means whereby, when necessary, the clutch maybe prevehted from being set automatically, andl also preferably whereby, when desired, the clutch may be set manually, if it should be found necessary or desirable to cause the engagement of the clutching parts at lower or different rotative speeds than'tlipse at which it is intended that the clutching parts are-to be engaged automatically. The manual controlling device also provides means whereby the. speed of the driven part may be regulated or varied without change of gearing, and without changing the speed of the driving part.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal'section yof a clutch-device power-transmitting mechanism embodying one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, partly broken away at different planes, l through the fly-wheel clutch device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal,section through -thely-wheel clutch device on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are' detail views of the manual controlling device. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of another form of the invention on line 7-7, Fig. 8, and Fig. 8 is adiametric section of the same on line 8-1-8, Fig. 7.

Referring to the gdrawings, 12 denotes a hollowywh'eel which will besuitably connected at its hub 13. with an engine or other suitable source of power by which it may be driven, the chamber of said fly-wheel being preferably tiglitlyinclosed so as to be adapted to contain a liquid lubricant. The fly-wheel 12 normally runs loose on a power-transmitting shaft 11i-suitably supported in a `gear box 15. Connected with the shaft 14, to rotate therewith, is a sleevehub 16 surrounding which is a seiies of highspeed clutch disks'or rings 17,

having notched engagements at their inner parts with said sleeve hub, said clutch disks or rings alternatingy withotlier high-speed clutch disks or rings 18 havingsuitable notched engagements at their Outer parts witha low-speedi driving Wheel or spider 19 the hub o1 central part of which is engagedwith'i a sleeve 20, to rotate therewith, but which wheel jor spider is mounted on said sleeve so as to be adapted to have a limited endlwise sliding movement thereon. Surrounding the driving wheel or spider 19, and having notched engagements therewith at their inner parts, is a series of low-speed clutch-disks or rings 21 alternating with other low-speed clutch rings or disks 22 having peripheral ears 23 through which pass bolts 24 connecting them tothe fly-wheel 12.

The sleeve 20 carries a pinion 23a meshing with a gear-ring 24SL connected by grip rollers 25, forming a silent'ratchet or clutch connection, with a hub 26 fast on the counter-shaft 27 The shaft 27 carries a gear 28 meshing with a gear 29 mounted .on and having .a splined connection with .a driving sleeve 30 having at its outer end a flangeor disk 31 from which power may be taken. Keyed v'to the power-transmitting shaft 14 is a hub 32 carry-ing vteeth or projections forming mem bers -of a grab-clutch 33 the other teeth or members of whichnare formed on the gear 29; and thus the said gear 29 and the driving sleeve 30 may be driven directly from the' shaft 14 when the high-speed clutch is in operation, and at which time the low-speed gear ring .24a can overrun; said overrunning operation being the same as that ullydescribed in our U. S. Patent No. 766,552. The gear 29 is adapted to be shifted endwise on the sleeve 30, for the reverse drive, so'as to be brought into driving connection with a gear`34-throug`h anidle gear 34a, indicated by dotted lines, as is comi.

mon with motor-vehicle gearing mechanism.-

I Loosely surrounding the low-speed driving sleeve 20 is a sleeve 35 forming part of a manual -controlling device. The sleeve 35 carries, within the fly-wheel 12, a wheel 36 having a horizontal ange 37 provided at its-peripheryUwith an annular notch 38 and an annularv rib 39:V At the inner end lof said fiange 37 is an abut-- ment ring 4() between which and the adjacent clutch ringor disk 21 is a suitable clearance space 41, when -the parts 'are out of clutching engagement. The sleeve 35 is provided with a thrust-collary or flange 42 suitably secured thereto and between which and an abutment part or collar 43 are arranged wedges 44 the shanks of which are connected by links 45 with the arms of a tilting-lever I or walking-beam 46 provided with an operating lever or arm 47 which may be extended to form a suitable handleto be within reachrof'the driver,

Aor which may be connected with a suitable pedal to-be operated by the lfoot of the`driver.

Seated in the annular recess 38 ofthe flange con- -nected with the controlling` sleeve 35,'is a ring or ail" l nular master-plate 48 against 'the outer side'of--which the toes 4910i the centrifugal weights 50 impinge, so that when the said weights are thrown out by centrifugal force the said master-plate or ring'will be'moved to the left, FigiY 1.l 'The centrifugal weights '50 'are normally held inward, or in their inoperative positions, by the stress of springs 51 bearing against the masterplate or ring 48 and preferably interposed between said master-plate or ring and the opposite inner wall of the fly-wheel 12.

The horizontal fiange 37 has at its inner end peripheral projections 52 to which are screwed or otherwise suitably attached casings 53 inclosing what are termed safety relief springs 54 the inner ends of which impinge against the master plate or ring 48. The said springs 54 are sufficiently stiff so that when the master-plate is forced to the left, Fig. 1, bythe toes of the centrifugal weights, it will also, through the said springs 54, carry the parts 37, 36, and to the left, and thereby close up the clearance between the ring and the adjacent clutch ring 22, thus forcing the low-speed clutch rings or disks into frictional driving engagement with each other, and causing the rotative movement of the iiywheel to be imparted to the low-speed driving wheel or spider 19 to set the low-speed gearing train into operation. A still further inward movement of the master-plate or disk 48, by the toes of the centrifugal weights 50, as the said weights are thrown further out- I ward centrifugally bya higher rotative speed of the fly-wheel, will cause the entire series of low-speed clutch disks to be moved further to the left, Fig. l, `aga'ins'tfthe stress of the springs 55 preferably inclosed within casings 56 attached to a ring 57 having a limited v sliding movement on the driving wheel 19. When the said driving Wheel is moved far enough to the left to close the clearance 58 which normally exists between the contact ring 59, carriedby said driving wheel, and the adjacent high-speed clutch disk or ring 17, the highspeed clutch disks or rings will be forced' into clutching engagement with each other and the rotative movement of the ffy-Wheel will then be transniitted directly to the hub 16 secured to the shaft 14, and thus the said shaft and the driving sleeve 30 connected therewith will receive the full rotative speed of the /fly-wheel through the low-speed clutch device connected with the said fly-wheel. It will thus be understood that the high-speed clutch device is driven from the low-speed clutch device, and within which latter the high-speed clutch device is nested in the fly-wheel, thereby permitting the use of a large number of clutch rings or disks, to provide strong clutching devices, within a comparatively small space, contributing to compactnesss of construction.

As the centrifugal Weights, 'by which the clutch disks or rings are forced into frictional clutchingengagernent with each other when the driving part reaches a predetermined speed of rotation, are norl mally held inward by the stress of the springs lfa'cting on said centrifugal weights through the masterplate 48, it will be understood that the clutch rings or disks are normally disengaged, so that no movement will normally be imparted to the driven part from the driving part through the clutch or clutches; but when the rotative speed offthe driving part is sufficient 'so that the stress of said `springs is overcome by centrifugal force the clutch disks or rings are automatically forced into frictional engagement with each other by said centrifugal Weights and power is then transmitted to the driven part or shaft.

As hereinbeforo stated the invention has for its object to provide a manually-controlled automatic clutch device, so that the clutching parts may beheld out of engagement, when desired, when the driving part or fly-wheel, or the engine with which said driving part or fly-wheel is so connected as to run therewith, may be running at speeds which would otherwise cause the clutching parts to be automatically engaged; as also preferably to provide manually controlled means whereby the clutching parts may be engaged at speeds lower than those at which they would be automatically thrown into engagement by the rotation of the driving part.

An embodiment of the invention in ils simplest form is shown in Figs` 7 and 8 in which the fly-wheel l2 is shown as bring provided with a single-speed clutch device. ln this form of the invention a driving wheel 60 is rigidly attached to the power-transmitting or driven shaft 61, said shaft being preferably provided with a flange 62 to Whiclrsaid driving wheel is secured. Surrounding the said driving wheel 60, and having notched engagements therewith at their inner parts, is a series of clutch-disks or rings 6.3 alternating with other clutch disks or rings 64 engaging a ring or shell 65 secured to the .fly-wheel casing .by bolts 65 passing through the fly-wheel; or the said clutch disks or rings 64 may be otherwise connected with said iiy-whcel to rotate therewith. Suitably mounted for endwise sliding movement relative to the shaft 61 is a sleeve 66- having a wheel 67 disposed within the fly-wheel l2 and provided with an annular master-plate or ring 68 between which and the nearest adjacent clutch disks or rings 63, when the clutching parts are disengaged and the shaft 61 is at rest, is a suitable clearance 69. The wheel 67, which may be termed a controlling wheel, is provided with suitable sleeves or housings 70 within which are arranged springs 7lv pressing against the inner Wall of the y-wheel and suitable stops 72 in the said sleeves or housings, so that said springs have a tendency to force the controlling wheel 67 to the left, Fig. 8. This tendency is, however, resisted by a controlling fork or lever 73 pivoted at 74 and engaging at its inner end a collar 75 so connected with the sleeve 66 of the controlling-wheel 67 that it ismovable with said sleeve. Suitable means will, of course, be provided to retain the controlling lever in any desired position, While at the same time permitting it to be moved by the driver or attendant to different positions. lhus if the said controlling lever beheld in the position, shown in Fig. 8 a-suitable rotative speed of the iiy- Wheel will cause the toes 76 of the centrifugal weights l77 to-force the master-plate 7 8 inward against the stress of the -relief springs 79, and thereby move the clutch disks or rings to the right, Fig. 8, so as to close the clearance 69 and thus force the clutch disksor rings into frictional engagement with each other to set the powertransmitting shaft 6l in motion through the driving wheel 60. lf, however, it beqdesired to prevent the clutch from being set into clutching operation at such rotative speed o f the fly-wheel as will throw `the free ends of thecentrifugal weights fully outward -into Contact with stops on the inner wall of the fly-wheel, the controlling lever 73 may -be manually operated to force the controlling wheel 67 `to the right, Fig.

8, against the stress of the springs 7l, far enough to afford such a wide clearance at 69 as will not be closed by the full movement of the master-plate 78 under the influence of the said centrifugal Weights; `and thus however `high the speed of rotation of the fly-wheel may be the clutching, operation of the clutch device will be prevented. If it be desired to throw the` clutch Iinto operationvatrotative speeds lower than those lwhich would normally effect the clutching operation automatically the controlling lever 7 3 will be so placed or moved as to permit the springsl71 to force the controlling wheel 67 to the left far enough to close the clearance 69 and thus cause the master-plate 68 carried Yby said wheel tor force the clutching disks into 'ictional engagement with each other andv there- -by set thenshaft 6l into rotation It will therefore be seen that the springs 7l coperatewith the manual controlling device or lever 73; and are controlled in their action by manual manipulation, and may, therefore, properly be termed manual-(controw springs; While the springs 79 coperate with the automaticallyoperating centrifugal weights 7 7 and may therefore' properly be termed automatic-control. springsl So; alsoin the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the springs 54 are the manual-control springs' `in that they have a tendency to force the controlling sleeve 35 to the leftvto close the clearance space 4l and setthe'loW-speed clutch, and this tendency is.con-^ trolled by the sliding wedges of the manual controllingk device; while in this form of the invention the springs 5l, which normally hold the centrifugal Weights 50 outward, are they automatic-control springs. Itwill thus be understood that in the construction afforded by the invention the automatically acting or centrifugal clutch device is supplemented by manually operated.

controlling `means by which the attendant or driver" .may at any time, or at any running speed of the driving part, throw the normally automatically-operating clutch-device into .or out-of clutching action; the controlling lever 73 being, ofcourse, suitably arranged or connected either for hand or .foot operation. I Owing to the fact that the chamber of theiiy-wheel, which serves as a casing or housing for the entire clutch device, is tightly closed, so as to. be adapted to contain and hold a liquid lubricant, as hereinbefore stated, .thegclutch disks may be run in oil, so that they-can slip on cach other, more or less, without heating. This feature is'not only desirable in changing from one Aspeed to another., when change-gears' are employed, as it permits the changes to be effected without anyv sudden jerks or jars, but is particillarly desirable in connection with amanual controlling device by which the "automatic, clutching action may be retarded or hastened, in that by lessening the frictional pressure of the clutch disks against each other the slip of` said disks on each other 'may be increased oraugmented, sothat a lower speed willbe imparted to the driven.- part, without changing the running speed of the driving part, or Without changeof gearing; and, conversely,- by increasing the frictional pressure of the clutch disks against eachother, by the manual 4controlling device7 the slip of the clutch disks -on leach other may be lessened so-as to increase the speed of the driven part relative to,the speed. ofy'the driving part, if the .frictional 'clutch pressure besuch, when `the device is runningas to. permitof such slip. For example, if the clutch device be so constructed," nrelative to the sea-ibo.

vehicle or other device intended to be driven, that the clutch disks will run without any slip relative to each other when a frictional clutch pressure of20 pounds to device or devices, and while the centrifugally acting automatic means for effecting the clutching engagement' of the clutch members will preferably be utilized, it will be understood that other. forms of clutching de- 3vices than those of the multiple-disk type may be ernployed; and that other automatic means than centrifugally acting in'eans may be utilized, without departing from the essence 'or scope of the invention as summa-v rized in the appended claims.

Having thus described our rinvention we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a power-transmitting mechanism, adapted for use in motor'vehicles, the combination with driving and driven parts, of a normally disengaged. multiple-disk friction clutch' device, automatic means for forcing,r the pai-tls thereof in to clutching engagement when said driving part reaches n certain predetermined speed of rotation, and a manual device by which the frictional clutch pressure of theclutching disks against each other may be controlled so that the clutching action of the clutch device may he effected or prevented and also so that the'speed of the said driven part may be regulated or varied without changing `-the running speed of the driving part.

1,2. In a power-transmitting mechanism, adapted for use in motor vehicles, the combination with driving-,and driven .parts and a closed casing adapted to hold a liquid lubricant,of a multiple-disk, friction clutch device tightly 'inclosed within said casing, automatic means for forcing the parts of said clutch device into clutching engagement when saidl driving part reaches a certain predetermined speedof rotation, and a manual device by which the frictional clutching pressure of the said disks against each other may he controlled so that the clutching action ofvthe clutch device may be effected or prevented and alsp so that the speed of the said driven part may be regulated yor varied without changing the running speed of the said driving part.` y v 3. In a power-transmitting mechanism, adapted f or use inl motor vehicles, the combination with driving and driven parts anda closed casing adapted to hold a'liquid lubrieffected or prevented and also so that,y the speed of the said driven part may be regulated or varied without changing 'the-running speed of the said driving'part.

' 4.' In a power-transmitting mechanism, adapted -for use in motor vehicles, the combination with driving and driven parts and a closed casing adapted to hold `a liquid lubricant, of a. multiple-disk, friction clutch device tightly Y inclosed within said casing, centrfugally acting means also inclosed within said casing, for 'forcing the parts of said clutch device into clutching engagement; and a manual device by `which the frictional clutchingv pressure of the said disks against each other may be controlled so that the clutching action of the clutch device muy be effected or prevented, and also so that the speed of the said driven part may he regulated or varied without changing the running speed of'the said driving part.

45. In a power-transmitting mechanism, adaptedfor use the combination with a tightly-closed fly-wheel adapted to hold a liquid lubricant, of a normallydisengaged, multiple-disk clutch-device inclosed within the same, automatic means, also inclosed within said fly-wheel, for forcing the parts of the said clutch device into clutching engagement when a certain predetermined speed of rotation is reached, and a manual controlling dev icevfor the said automatic clutch device.

6. In a power-transmitting mechanism, adapted for use with motor vehicles, the combination with a tightly closed fly-wheel adapted to hold a liquid lubricant, of a normallyedisengaged, clutch-device inclosed within the same, centrifugally actuated means. also inclosed within said fly-wheel, for forcing the parts of the said clutch device into clutching engagement, and a manual controlling device for the said centrifugally engaged clutch device.

7.'.111 a power-transmitting mechanism, the combination with driving and driven pa`rts,' of high and low speed, multiple-disk clutch devices, one nested within and being driven by the other.

8. In al power-transmitting mechanism, the combination with -tlriving and driven parts, of high and low-speed clutch devices, one nested within and being driven bythe other, and manual controlling devices for the said clutchdevices. v

9. In a power-transmitting mechanism, the combination with a driving and driven part, of high and low speed, multiple-.disk clutch-devices, automatic means for forcing the clutching parts thereof into clutching engagement. and a manual controlling device whereby the automatic clutch action'tmay he prevented when desired.

10. -ln a power-transmitting mechanism, thecombination with a' normally-disengaged clutch-device and centrifugally-acting, automatic means, housed within a rotating part. foi` forcing the clutching parts thereof into clutching engagement, of a manila] controlling device for said clutch device whereby the automatic engagement of the clutching parts may be prevented. or whereby the clutching engagement of said parts maybe effected independently of the centrifugally-acting automatic engaging devices.

11. In a power-transmitting mechanism. the combination 'with a driving and a driven part, of a normally disoncaged clutch device, automatic means for causing engagement of the clutching parts when the drivingv part reaches a certain predetermined speed of rotation, for the ypurpose 'of setting the driven part in motion, amanual controlling deviceby which clutch engagement prevented or effected, one or more f manual-control springs and one or more automaticfcontrol springs cooperating, respectively, with tlie manual controlling device and the automatic clutchengaging means.

12. ln a power-transmitting mechanism, the combination with a driving and a'driven part, of a normally disengaged clutch device, a fly-wheel Awithin which said clutch device is inclosed, automatic means within said tiy-wheel for causing engagement of the clutching parts when the -driving part reaches a certain predetermined speed of Arotation, foithe` purpose of setting the driven part in motion, a manual controlling device, outsidesaid fly-wheel, by which clutch engagement of the parts may or effected, one or more manual-controlY springs and one or vmore "automaticontrol" springs coperating, Vrespectively, with the manual 'controlling device and the automatic clutch-engaging means. L

13. In a power-transmitting mechanism, with a driving and a driven part, of a normally disengaged multiple-disk clutch device, centrifugally-.controlled means for causing engagement of the clutchingparts when the driving part reached a certain predetermined speedof rotation, for the purpose of setting the driven part in motion, a 'manual controlling device by which clutch engagement of the parts may beprevented or or more manuabcontrol" ,springs and one or more automatic-control l springs cooperating, respectively, with the manual controlling device and the automatic clutch-engaging means.

14. In a poweretransmtting mechanism, with a driving and a driven part, of a normally disengaged clutch device, 'a fly-wlheel within which said clutch device is inclosed. centrifugallycontrolled means within parts when the driving part reaches a' certain predetermined speed of rotation, for th purpose of setting` the driven part in motion, a manual controlling device, outside said flywheel, by which clutch engagement of the parts may be prevented or effected,vone or more manualcontrol springs and one or moreA automatic-control springs cooperating, respectively, with*k the manualA controlling device and the automatic clutch-engaging means.

ln testimony whereof we aix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

' THOMAS LnGGn'r'r s'rUIi'rEvAN'r.

THOMAS .ios'm'H sTUn'rEvAN'r.'

of the` parts 'may be be prevented the combination effected, onel the combination said flywheel for causing engagement of the clutching' 

